William b



@einen tartesl iatrnt @frn Letters .Patent No. 82,271, dated September 22, 1868; cntedated' September 9, 1868.

IMPROVED CLAMP PQR RAILRAD-BAILS. 4

@te Stlghtls referat tu in tlgese trtters tant mit mating-,part nf ite same.. I

"ro ALL WHoM IT MAY coNcERN;

Be it known that-I, WILLIAM B. ATKINSON, of Pittsburg, Allegheny cgnnty., Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Safety-Clamp for Guard-Rails.; and I do h erebydeclare the' following to be a full, clear, and exactv description of the same.

My invention consists of a clamp, constructed substantially as described hereafter, for so securing a guardrail as to prevent it from being moved either laterally or 'longitudinally by any strains to .which it may be subjected. i l i In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part ofthis speciication, and in which- 4 Y i Figure 1 is a-sectional view of my improved safety-clamp for guard-rails.

Figure 2, a section on the line 1-2, g. 1.

FigureS, a plan view, partly in section; and

Figure 4, a detached view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A representsa portion of one of the main rails of a railroad-track, and B part of an adjacent guard-rail.

The guard-rail is gererallysecured at a point opposite to a4 switch or turnout, its object being to maintain the wheels of a car upont-he proper track at any point where they would be liable to run o' ofthe same.

Thisis clearly shown in lig. 1, wherethe red lines X represent a portion of a car-wheel, the flange of which enters the space between the two rails, and bears against the guard-rail.

The strain thus imparted to the latter railhas a tendency to loosen it, after which, instead of a safeguard, it becomes absolutely dangerous-an objection which I propose to obviate by means of' the devices which I will now proceed to describe. l

The main and guard-rails A and Bare secured to the sleepers ofthe track in theusual manner, and then, between or upon the sleepers, at equal distances apart, and beneath the rails, are placed plates C, each plate vhaving at its opposite ends lugs or lips a, against which bear the lower flanges b of the two rails.

A T-headed bolt or pin, D, passes between the two rails, and through an opening in the plate C, its Vhead conforming to theshape of the lower lang'es b b of the rails, and to the webf of theguard-rail, as shown in iig. 1.

In the shank of the bolt D ,is an opening,-h, (iig. 2,) for the reception of awedge-shaped key, F, which bears against the under side of the plate C, and against the lower edge of the said opening, so that when the key is driven into the latter, the bolt Dwill be drawn downwards upon the flanges b b ofthe two rails,l until the latter are bound iirmly betweeg the head of the bolt and the plate C. v

In order to preventthe key F from being loosened by the continual vibrations and shocks to which it is subjected by passing trains, it is necessary that itV should Ibe secured in the position to which it is driven. This may be done by a pin, z', inserted into one'of a number of holes in the key, and bearing against one side of the bolt D, as shown in fig. 1,- or a set-screw, passing through one sideof the bolt, may be caused to bea.; against and hold the key, as shown in -iig. 2, or, if desired, the end of the key may be split to eiect this object, as shown in iig. 4. 4

It'will be seen, -on reference to gs. 1 and 3, that a portion of the flange b ofthe guard-rail is cut away or recessed, for the reception of the shank of the bolt D, the object being to counteract any tendency the guardf rail might have to slip longitudinally.

The above clamp is simple in its construction, can be readily applied, and serves to eiectually prevent the guard-rail from being moved either laterally or longitudinally.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The T-headed bolt or pin D, plate C, and wedge or key F, comb-ined and applied to the securing of a guard rail, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' W. B. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN WHITE, C. B. APRICE. 

